Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-01-13

winch every body doubted, and still doubts. As
10 motlve,n he added slowly, Il belieye--yes,
| really believe that could assign a motive. .
"You eoulds What isitls asked the doctor
quickly
BIT Mr. Merlin said eGood.day,'' aud,
politely raising his bat, disappeared
Ill.
1t was the third anniversary OF David
Gowen's murder, aud just such another even
Ing ---chili, wet, gusty aud gloomy. DIR. Ford
sat alone over the bright fire in his study A
book lay on his lap, but he was not reading.
lie was gazing intentIy into the glowing fire.
that anfailing inspirer of dreamy reflection.
and thinking of woman
DR.. Ford had married early in life, and had
soon become a widower Solitary he had re.
manned ever since-long lonely wears he had
gone through until middle age came and
found him stu lonely. He told people he was
welded to bis profession, but some time be-
fore this night he had awakened to the fact
Of how cold and cherries wife she was For
living, vital, absorbing love grew into bis
life. The seeds we're sown when he first met
Mrs. Cewen, Her beauty, her tragic sorrow,
aud her touching faith in the death, all i'm
pressed him profoundly. friendship grew
up between them, which on his part developed
into lore. He asked Mrs Cover 10 be his
! wife, and her answer threw him iuto dispar
| II was not that she was unable to return bis
feelings; but the mystery of her husbands
death stood between them. She declared that
while that mystery remained unsolved her
mind could know No peace, her thoughts
must dwell even in the past That being so,
TO marry the doctor would have been to him a
| Crievolis wrong
sharing, he did, her conviction that
/ David Cowen had been murdered, d. Ford
/ had no arguments with which 10 shake this
decision the Justice OF which he could not
hut acknowledges Feeling, too. the hopeless
ness OF the mystery being cleared up, he 1cs.
! paired. lie was thinking mournfully Of these
! things, when servant entered and presented .
| card. IL bore the name of jules Merlin.
Merlin, Merlin muttered the doctor
The name seemed familiar enough. Show
the gentleman up please"
When DIR. Ford ssw Mr.. Merlin he rcmcn-
| bered him, for be was not man to forget a
face he bad once seen, aud Mr. Meriin's face
was one not readily forgotten, Three years
had wrought change in it. however 1t had
4 4
were startling in their distinetness; the eyes
hollow and rowing and the lips painfully rest.
less. Mr.. Merlin locked in, not passingly so,
but organicslly He looked AZ though so,ae
internal disease was slowly but surely consurl.
ing bin. So the doctor thought after quick
/ but comprehensive glance at his visitor.
what can | do for you, MIR Merlinst be
asked after they had shaken hands
Nothing, thank YOU, doctor. Ny visit is
not professional one
"Nol Pardon me, but as YOU are looking
out of sorts, | thought
/ Mr.. Merlin laughed strangely.
you thought had come for advice he
/ interrupted, No My visit is simply a
friendly one. To tell YOU the truth, was
never better in my life"
Then / pity You, thought the doetsr
ave Merlins are queer folk y continued the
visitor drawing his chair to the fire as IL cold
! Our looks always pits "a We are thin to
| emaciation, and sallow TO rellowness. But the
thinner and yellower we are the better we feel
/ The worse we look the better we are Strange
| isn't ita' Mr.. Merlin was evidently jesting
but the effect was not pleasant His voice
1 was high pitched aud somewhat grating. and
| there was no humor in the hard smile on his
! lips.
The doctor, having placed wine and cigars
| gu the table, made few remarks on topics OF
| general interest. But his visitor made no re-
ply: he had sunk into restless silence
| Presently he moved his chair from the fire,
/ AMI sitting against the table, drank glass of
wine
/ "Try a cigar, said the doctor These
/ were sent me by friend Ia Havana .
''.and You never proved the truth of yotir
| Theory g remarked Mr.. Merlin suddenly. aud
/ taking no notice of his hosts invitation
| What theory
Concerning the death of tina. man in the
| Underground Railway DIR. Ford was start
| led at this sudden brosehing of subject that
| lay so near his heart
'Irequired no proof he replied slowly. "a
| murder was undoubtedly done. ! would Will
| tngly give some years of my life to be able TO
| lay my hand on the guilty man." he alded,
| half to himself.
| Mr.. Merlin rose and walked the room ut
was an interesting case, y he said at fasten-
| ed upon me. It has never lefs-me night or
| day So profoundly MYSTERIOUS; so extraorii.
nary in every way. II cowen did not strike
| the blow, who did have asked myself ten
! thousand times. And, more interesting ques-
ton stlll bow did the man escape. have
| pictured the scene have been in the car
risge with the two men. | have seen the blow
! struck. have heard the dying gasp of the
| victim, and watched him as the death look
| flooded his eyes. / hear the gasp nov, and
see the eyes.' Merlin paused with hands out
stretched and breathed heavily His excite
ment was remarkable aud he had spoken as
though he had no audience. This doctor
watched him with intense interest, and not
without some uneasiness He thought that
the mans mind had been unhingcd by dwell
ing upon that one terrible subject,
You should not permit yourself to get so
excited he said gently.
Then have followed Che murderer in his
escape pursued Merlin. Not detail has
been overlooked. | have forged and connect
ed every link in the chain, 1t is complete
know every point In the strange history.
am The only man living who does. 1t is all
here In nv brain-burning like molten iron.
must :ell il, or 1t will kill me "
'Tell me--quetly," said the doctor He
himself, though outwsrdly calm, was now
greatly excited. Mad though he appeared,
there was a ring OF terrible truth IN Merlin's
sharp voice. Despite the wiIdness of his words
and manner, he impressed his listener with
the conviction that be was about 10 hear
truth, that light was about to b. thrown on
the dark mystery out of which had grown his
despair. He trembled with the hope that
that despair would be removed
Mr. Feriin again sat against the table, on
which lie leaned heavily,
.'Yes, III tell YOU he said in lower voce,
"You deserve to be told You recognized
murder when the police babbleI suicide You
aud ! shall share aud keep the secret Listeni
closer 1t was the bearded maii,'
"WelIr'
His beard was false. Oh! he laid his plans
well and warily. Don't you remember saying
that he must have had devilish craft and won
derful lucki Ha, hal So he had What is
the good of the best laid plans in the world
without little luck, TO back the;nl Our friend
reckoned on his luck, aud it stood by him
welln
''Who is the mani' demanded the doctor
eagerly.
II don't know him, " replied the other draw.
ing back and passing his hand across his
ewes. sAt least not--not Ia tangible form
have him in my mind, though, and there he is
distinct. Shall ! go onln
'If you please" said the doctor, with de-
creased interest. Hewas practical He want
ed to be told of real murderer, not to be in
troduced to creation of disordered intelli-
gence.
1--WE win go back resumed Mr.. Merlin
folding his arms and staring at vacancy; back
in the history Of the bearded man, say an
hour before be was alone in the train with--with
the man he killed He is at Baker Street. He
hnvs a first class ticket 10 Mating Hill Gate